Hyundai hyped its Veloster and the automotive media had high hopes for the innovative odd four-door hatchback, but when the reviews came out, the praise was missing. Good? Yes. But great? Hardly. Still, Hyundai is calling the Veloster an early success, capturing the highest percentage of the “compact sporty car” market in its first full...
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Nissan Australia is fighting a public relations backlash after it was announced that the winner of a Facebook contest it held turned out to be best friends with a staffer managing the site. Far more than just a free t-shirt or a mug, the winner received a shiny new Nissan Micra, and a $1,250 gift...
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The honeymoon period didn’t last long for Suzuki and Volkswagen and now the Japanese automaker has filed for divorce. In an official statement Suzuki Motor Corp. has announced it will seek arbitration in an attempt to get back the shares the German auto giant currently holds in the Japanese small car manufacturer. “The arbitration proceedings...
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A Cadillac diesel? It could happen. Or should we say, happen again. In a recent interview at the launch of the brand’s new XTS flagship sedan (above) at the LA Auto Show, Caddy marketing boss Don Butler admitted that a diesel-powered Cadillac is a possibility. Butler highlighted the torque, as well as the high mixture...
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Is it OK to love one of your kids more than the others? If you work for Jeep the answer is a resounding yes. After the launch of the Grand Cherokee SRT8, brand enthusiasts might like to see other SRT-badge models, but they won’t. The same goes for the upcoming diesel version, which only recently...
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Subaru has the Legacy and Outback and now Volkswagen has the Passat and the Passat Alltrack. Essentially a high-riding version of the Passat wagon (“Estate”) offered in Europe, the car will make its official debut next week at the Tokyo Motor Show. Along with flared fenders, a stainless steel-look front bumper garnish and some matte-chrome...
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If you thought Google was the only one with an autonomous Prius, you’d be wrong. At the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will show-off a self-driving version of its best-selling hybrid. At this year’s show, Toyota will participate in the “Smart Mobility City 2011” exhibit, designed to showcase the future of transportation. One of the...
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Volkswagen will look to bring to market high-performance diesel models under the newly formed R performance division. In an interview with Autoblog, Ulrich Riestenpatt gt. Richter, the man in charge or Vee-Dub R has confirmed as much, telling the outlet that, “The future is diesel and all-wheel-drive.” And while he didn’t say as much, that...
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No one will ever accuse the Porsche 911 of being the world’s most beautiful convertible. But slap a made-in-Stuttgart badge on the front of it and people don’t seem to care what a car looks like. With that in mind, Porsche has released details and photos of the next-generation (991) 911 Carrera Cabriolet and Carrera...
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In a week’s time at the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will unveil what might just be the most important car it will launch in decades. Sure the Camry makes the Japanese automaker plenty of cash and the Prius points to the future of the automobile, but if Toyota is going to succeed it needs an...
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The Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient cars have been named for 2012 by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA (those guys that come up with the official ratings for cars) has compiled the list, which is dominated by Japanese automakers. Those remaining two are domestic vehicles, although with one being a commercial van, it almost...
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[vs-jwplayer movieid=”qo2ehNLueoE” width=”640″ height=”360″ autoplay=”0″] Don’t live in LA, or you just can’t be bothered to face the crowds and finish off your day with sore feet? Then you’re in luck. AutoGuide has done all the footwork (and the talkie talkie, and the video editing), to bring you the highlights from the 2011 LA Auto...
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With the debut of a new 5.0-liter Tau V8 in the Genesis Sedan R-Spec and rumors that it will find its way under the hood of the Genesis Coupe, Hyundai isn’t necessarily committed to eight-cylinders. That’s not surprising as the industry moves towards forced induction options like turbocharging and supercharging in order to deliver ideal...
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Subaru has confirmed that a successor to the Impreza Outback Sport will arrive next year, wearing the “Crosstrek” badge. Based on the XV model sold in other markets it is in most respects a high-riding version of the Impreza hatchback. The announcement was made by Subaru of America Executive Vice President Tom Doll at...
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Just a few years ago picking a Top 10 Cars list from the LA Auto Show would have been a simple task, with few world premieres and most of the vehicles on display having already been revealed at some overseas venue. That’s no longer the case, with over 20 global debuts this year. So with...
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If you’re a lover of hot-hatches then there’s a lot going on at Ford these days that will interest you. For starters there’s the new Focus ST, a high-performance version of the new compact hatch that’s set to take on cars like the Mazdaspeed3 and Civic Si. It makes 247-hp from a turbocharged direct-injection EcoBoost...
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Ford‘s new Escape couldn’t be any more different from the outgoing model, with a new look, a new platform, new EcoBoost turbocharged direct-injection engines and an all-new interior with an updated version of Ford’s MyFord Touch telematics system. Plus, Ford has added a cool new innovation, the handsfree liftgate. Find out about all the updates...
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Over a year ago Honda and Mazda got the ball rolling, announcing new B-Spec race cars based on their sub-compact Fit and Mazda2 models. Since then numerous other automakers have signed on, ranging from Fiat with the 500, to Kia with the Rio. The latest automaker to toss its tires into the ring is MINI,...
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Smaller than the Cruze. Smaller than the Sonic. The Spark is Chevy‘s new urban mini-car, designed for sale globally, the bowtie brand has now officially unveiled the Spark for the U.S. market, here at the LA Auto Show. Powered by a 1.2-liter 4-cylinder it makes just 85-hp and will compete against cars like the Smart...
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The Fiat 500 was just an appetizer. This is the car Fiat fans have really been waiting for, the 500 Abarth. Built by the automaker’s in-house tuning division, the Abarth model gets a long list of upgrades, from a lower and stiffer suspension, to upgraded wheels and, most importantly, a turbocharged mated to the 1.4-liter...
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The 2011 Green Car of the Year award isn’t going to an electric car or a hybrid. The winner is the Honda Civic GX, a car that has an internal combustion engine, but that doesn’t burn any gasoline at all. That’s because it’s powered by natural gas. The Civic beat out the Ford Focus Electric,...
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Over the past few decades, one of the main criticisms that could be made against Buick models is that they were quasi-luxury cars, never quite rising to the status of a the Germans or Japanese. Buick now seems ready to raise the bar, with the debut of the LaCrosse GL Concept at the...
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Adding performance, power and style, Porsche has unveiled the new Panamera GTS at the LA Auto Show. Already an impressive performer, Porsche ups the ante with a long list of upgrades, ranging from the brakes to the exhaust system, to a standard Sport Chrono Package with launch control. Power has also been increased 30-hp from...
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Infiniti is preparing a stunning new concept car for the Geneva Auto Show, one that will use both a gasoline engine and electric motor, while taking strong design cues from the stunning Essence concept. Infiniti says the car is, “being created to extend the potential for high performance, low emission electric cars.” With Infiniti already...
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